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France-UNESCO Cooperation Agreement (CFU)

Principles of the agreement

Signed in 1997, the Co-operation Agreement between UNESCO and the Government of France for the protection and enhancement of the monumental, urban and natural heritage was established to enhance understanding of cultural and natural heritage, to encourage the integration of the preservation of heritage in urban and territorial development projects, and to ensure the inclusion of a social element to heritage conservation. The France - UNESCO Co-operation Agreement between France and UNESCO, was the first bilateral agreement with UNESCO on heritage issues.

A working tool

The France UNESCO Co-operation Agreement was designed to support UNESCO's actions to protect and enhance cultural and natural heritage through technical and financial aid that draws on France's acknowledged expertise in heritage conservation. The knowledge and skills in France were developed over many years of experience and specialized educational and training programmes. Consequently France can put the skills of a wide variety of professionals and experts - including researchers, historians, archaeologists, architects, curators, urban planners, landscape architects, restoration professionals, legal experts and economists, local authorities, universities, NGOs, - at UNESCO's disposal, thus contributing to its fieldwork in the countries that request its assistance.

Lever Effect

Over the last 15 years approximately 100 projects have been undertaken in 50 countries throughout the world. With a budget of approximately 3.7 million euros UNESCO has been able to mobilize more than 18 million euros in the framework of the France-UNESCO Co-operation agreement.

For numerous projects, the France-UNESCO cooperation agreement provided minimal financial input but essentially a qualitative one, as this seed money enabled the mobilization of important donors such as the French Development Agency, European Union and the World Bank.

Contribute to the World Heritage Global Strategy while following the strategic objectives of the World Heritage Committee (5 C's) to develop a more representative and balanced World Heritage List, and to promote UNESCO's strategy towards culture and development and its commitment towards the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Serve as a leverage for capacity building, focusing on local communities and promote long-term support and implement projects focusing on sustainable economic and social development

Provide impetus for developing city to city and site to site partnerships and promote decentralized co-operation for heritage protection involving regional or local French authorities, and help foster international aid and co-operation programmes.